The Utah Jazz made some trades earlier in the NBA offseason that they framed as moves to help rebuild the roster around Donovan Mitchell. But, the potential packages hinted at them going down another avenue.
In exchange for Royce O’Neale and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz picked up five first-round picks and a pick swap. Five players were brought aboard and all of them are either expiring contracts, rookie-scale or team-friendly deals. They were trades a rebuilding team would make, not one looking to contend.
After turning away trade calls for Donovan Mitchell, they recently changed course and were now accepting those calls. The New York Knicks emerged as the likeliest landing spot, as they are desperate for a star.
Mitchell hails from New York and is a three-time All-Star. The Jazz have made the postseason every year of his career. He is the exact kind of player that the Knicks have been seeking out and will put them in a position to land another star down the road.
For years, the Knicks have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for an All-Star, but nothing has come to fruition. That is why some in the media are saying there will be hell to pay if Leon Rose and the front office fail to finish this Mitchell trade.
While the mainstream media is pushing this as a deal that the Knicks have to get done and the pressure is on them, that is not actually the case. They have already made improvements to the roster this offseason, signing Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein. Adding those two players to their young core and organically building is something they are not opposed to doing.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trades To Send Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks
The continued development of players such as RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Cam Reddish, Jericho Sims and Deuce McBride will be enough to have the Knicks competing for at least a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament this upcoming season.
Adding Mitchell to that mix would only make them more dangerous. The pressure, however, is on the Jazz to find a deal. They are the team that is looking to bottom out and rebuild. If they enter the season with Mitchell on the roster, they will win too many games to seriously contend for the No. 1 overall pick and the chance to select Victor Wembanyama, the projected top pick.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trades To Send Utah Jazz Star Donovan Mitchell To New York Knicks
The New York Knicks cannot let their guard down, as other teams around the league do want to acquire Donovan Mitchell as well. They have the assets to meet the asking price of Utah, but they cannot overpay when their package is so much stronger than the other ones that have been mentioned as possibilities around the league.
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